Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, the long-awaited remakes of Generation IV, are arriving shortly. Here’s all you need to know.
While the enormous expectation for Pokémon’s second generation titles will probably never be matched, the hoopla around Pokémon Diamond and Pearl remakes comes close. While various components of these games’ design and structure have been brought into question, they’re nonetheless largely appreciated in general. Between their difficulty, new mechanics, and Sinnoh itself, Generation IV is a revered period in the franchise.
Soon, gamers will be able to return the region in Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, and as its release date approaches, The Pokémon Company is unveiling more and more about this long-awaited game. Here’s everything we know about Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl so far, including its trailer, release date and new features.
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl were introduced in a teaser that aired at a Pokémon Presents honouring the franchise’s 25th anniversary. While it was low on information, it commemorated the tradition of the Sinnoh area while showing the remake’s graphic style. More information would be given in a new trailer published as part of August’s Pokémon Presents, which took a deeper dig at the games.
After showcasing the opening sequences that will greet players when they start — including the moment when the protagonist and his competitor pick their starters after being besieged by wild Starly — the teaser shows players exploring Sinnoh. Traversal elements like ramps players may slide down (and ride up) on their bikes and thick muck that traps players will return from the originals, as will Sinnoh’s gyms.
It also unveiled a range of recurring mechanics, such stickers for Poké Balls, Contests and the Underground, as well as important characters and plot aspects. Notably, the clip highlights several new elements, such Pokémon following in the overworld, character customization choices and particular spots where Pokémon appear in the overworld — however the game seems to return to the original’s random encounters.
Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl’s September teaser showed a range of minor elements coming to the game like returning mini-games and side characters. Perhaps most crucially, it revealed how HM moves will be implemented into the game without being as annoying as they were in the originals. A trailer published the following month highlighted gym leaders from later in the game, the nefarious Team Galactic and the Legendary Lake Trio.
Finally, in the weeks leading up to the game’s debut, Pokémon disclosed part of Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl’s post-game content in a brief teaser showing off a new place named Ramanas Park. Finally, Nintendo published a lengthier overview trailer that covers together much of the content disclosed so far from the main tale and temporary companions to the Grand Underground and Super Contest Shows.
What Pokémon Brilliant Diamond And Shining Pearl Is About
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will be accurate remakes of the original Generation IV games, and the narrative is unlikely to stray from what came before. A crucial aspect of this remake is nostalgia, and the official website drives that home. On it, a text blurb comments that “the original plot has been faithfully replicated, and the feeling of scale in the originals’ cities and routes has been painstakingly kept.” As such, it’s quite straightforward to forecast what gamers will experience.
The adventure will document the player character’s trip to the peak of the gym challenge. In their quest to become the Sinnoh region champion, the player will battle against their competitor, as well as Team Galactic. Ever since Generation III, Pokémon’s tales have relied on the villainous teams and the iconic box Legendaries; Diamond and Pearl are no different. However, what is still unknown is whether or not Platinum’s narrative embellishments will be integrated into the game.
What We Know About Pokémon Brilliant Diamond And Shining Pearl
Perhaps the most striking alteration included in these remakes is a meta one: Game Freak itself is not working on Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. Instead, ILCA Inc. has been assigned with development. This outsourcing is crucial. Not only does it allow up Game Freak to focus on projects such as Pokémon Legends: Arceus, but also may imply why these remakes are more of a one-to-on replication than a reinterpretation.
As for improvements to the games itself, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will have several elements not featured in the originals, which largely entail visual adjustments. One of them is Pokémon following the player, which was previously only possible for those Pokémon judged adorable enough to wander about Amity Square. That location will return, now enabling players to wander with up to six Pokémon — so long as they are cute enough to be admitted into the park.
Additionally, the original game’s Seals have been renamed Stickers, though these seem to operate the same way. Players will be able to personalize the protagonist’s outfit — something that wasn’t featured in the Hoenn remakes despite personalization launching that generation.
One of the more major upgrades showed off of far involves the Underground. While most of it seems like it did in the original Sinnoh games (the mining mini-game in particular seems to be a faithful replica), there are new locales called Pokémon Hideaways. These regions will include wild Pokémon roaming the overworld that players may catch. The Pokémon that appear are impacted by the statues players install in their Secret Bases, which look to adjust the environment to suit certain sorts.
Some of Sinnoh’s Pokémon can only be found there — which seems to be a solution to remedy the original’s Pokédex flaws without modifying current places too much. The presentation explicitly portrays a player encountering a Houndoom, a Pokémon introduced to Platinum’s regional Dex to alleviate its predecessor’s dearth of Fire-types.
As for other features, Diamond and Pearl’s Pokétch will return to the game. This was a smartwatch-type gadget that had a number of applications that enabled users measure things like how many steps they walked and how their Pokémon were doing in daycare, making it immensely handy for breeding and hatching eggs. The Pokétch originally took up the majority of the DS’ touch screen, but it seems to now dwell in the top right corner of the screen. Its absence in some shoots might imply that players can put it away.
Additionally, the Pokétch will functions as the game’s means of introducing Hidden Moves, the remake’s equivalent of HMs. Instead of needing to teach these moves to a Pokémon in the party, the Pokétch will feature an app that summons a wild Pokémon to aid out. Like in the original, additional HMs will be obtained as the player advances, enabling access to more sections of the Sinnoh region.
A new post-game area titled Ramanas Park has also been announced as a site where players who have reached the Hall of Fame will be able to capture Legendary Pokémon that appeared in the first three generations. Players will need to collect slates buried across Sinnoh to trigger these encounters, and the Legendaries accessible will change between versions. Those with Brilliant Diamond will be able to capture Ho-Oh and Johto’s Legendary Beast trio, while Shining Pearl will contain Lugia and Kanto’s Legendary Bird triple. Mewtwo and Hoenn’s Legendaries don’t appear in the film, while Rayquaza is hinted by a monument seen in the reveal trailer.
Additionally, people who have played prior Pokémon games published for Switch will be awarded with Mythical Pokémon. By visiting Floaroma Town, gamers with Sword and Shield data on their Switch will be granted a Jirachi, while those with Let’s Go Pikachu and Eevee data will get a New. This implies, presuming these Pokémon can be captured during the player’s first visit, trainers will be able to catch two Mythicals immediately after finishing the first gym.
When Will Pokémon Brilliant Diamond And Shining Pearl Release?
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl will be available on November 19, 2021. This is quite expected, considering recent main Pokémon games have generally debuted around this time. Perhaps what’s more fascinating is that only two months later, the remakes will be followed up by Pokémon Legends: Arceus which opens on January 28, 2022. No matter whatever title fans are looking forward to, there is plenty more Pokémon on the horizon.
In commemoration of these titles, Nintendo a special edition Switch Lite that is designed to pay homage to a special edition Nintendo DS Lite that launched around the same time as Pokémon Platinum. Though the front of this model seems identical to the ordinary gray Switch Lite, the rear contains box art Legendaries Dialga and Palkia. The console will release two weeks before the games on November 5.
There are also many early-purchase perks for individuals who leap into Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl at launch and in the months that follow. The protagonist’s warmer looking clothing from Pokémon Platinum and a Manaphy egg will be accessible until February 21, 2022. Those who buy the digital edition before that day will also get a ticket for 12 Quick Balls via code, which will be valid until February 28.